BY ANNA PULLEY
In response to the massive Carr fire that has swept through Northern California, Styx is making a donation of up to $15,000 to the Shasta Regional Community Foundation in conjunction with their performance at the Redding Civic Auditorium today, August 19.
The Carr fire has forced 38,000 people from their homes and killed seven people, including two firefighters, since it started on July 23. It has also burned more than 163,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and nearly 500 buildings. As of press time, the fire is still not contained.
“[Bassist] Ricky Phillips grew up in Redding, so it has a special place in our collective hearts,” Styx drummer Todd Sucherman told Drum. “The band and management have been looking for ways to donate. Part of the proceeds to our upcoming show there at the Civic will go to help, and the Civic is making a donation of their own as well. We all look forward to being a positive ‘distraction’ to the good people of Redding at this sensitive time.”
Donations will come from the band members themselves as well as the nonprofit Rock To The Rescue, which was founded by Styx and REO Speedwagon, in addition to proceeds collected by the venue. Fans will also be able to donate at the performance, or online at the charity’s website.
Styx members made a short video PSA about the efforts and released it on YouTube. The video includes Sucherman, singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw, co-founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, and bassist Phillips.
“There was some heartfelt discussion between Styx management and representatives in Redding,” Phillips says in the video. “The result, what could have been a canceled show, was eventually deemed necessary as, ‘a needed and welcome distraction… a place for unity… and even celebration.’ Whatever the reason for attendance, I can promise you a kick-ass rock show and a great evening of entertainment.”
Past Rock To The Rescue campaigns have included concerts to help those impacted by 9/11 with Journey, Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Survivor, Kansas, and others; financial assistance for children’s music education programs; natural disaster relief efforts; and help for victims of the Paris terrorist attacks in 2015. For more information and to donate, visit rocktotherescue.net.
Styx has recently come off of a US tour for their latest release, The Mission, and Phillips said that the band is “excited to be playing an evening of Styx classic hits for y’all that will span the decades from the ‘70s to the present.”
Amp yourself up in the meantime by listening to some of these Styx classics.